Connecticut Department of Labor's Office of Research

Labor Market Information - State of Connecticut Labor Situation

State of Connecticut Labor Situation

Last Updated: June 24, 2024

Connecticut payroll jobs higher by 4,700 as jobless rate declines to 4.3% in May 2024

	WETHERSFIELD, June 24, 2024 - Connecticut nonfarm payroll jobs increased 4,700 (0.3%) to a level of 1,711,000 in May 2024, while the state's unemployment rate moved lower by one-tenth of one percent to 4.3% (preliminary data, seasonally adjusted). Since May 2023, statewide industry employment is 18,000 (1.1%) positions higher than the May 2023 level of 1,693,000. The state has now recovered 104.3% (303,500) of the 291,100 nonagricultural jobs lost during the March-April 2020 COVID lockdown period. April Connecticut preliminary payroll gains of 1,100 (0.1%) were revised higher by 500 jobs to 1,600 gain on the monthly sample update. The May 2024 unemployment rate dropped one-tenth over-the-month but is one percentage point higher than a year ago (3.3%). The CT Labor Situation includes labor statistics from two different monthly surveys (households and establishments) produced by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in cooperation with the States. "Connecticut's labor market continues its strong start to 2024 with the fifth consecutive monthly gain in payroll employment," said Michael Polzella, Assistant Director of the Office of Research at the Connecticut Department of Labor. "Job growth averaged 3,040 per month, adding 15,200 jobs so far this year. The private sector leads the way outpacing the former all-time high in 2018 by almost 10,000 jobs."

Nonfarm Jobs Detail (business establishment survey)

Connecticut's Private Sector employment added 4,200 (0.3%) positions in May 2024 to 1,476,100 and is higher by 15,600 jobs (1.1%) from the May 2023 level (1,460,500). The state's Private Sector has fully recovered (105.5%) from the April 2020 COVID employment lockdown bottom and first surpassed this milestone in January 2023. April's preliminary Private Sector job gain of 300 (0.02%) was upgraded to a 700 (0.1%) job increase. The Government supersector was up by 500 jobs (0.2%) in May to a level of 234,900 jobs and is higher by 2,400 (1.0%) positions from year-ago levels. The public sector is now 90.3% recovered from the overall COVID April 2020 employment low. April 2024 total Government gains of 300 were revised higher by 100. Connecticut's full government supersector includes all civilian federal, state, local, and tribal government employment, including public education and Native American casino jobs located on federally recognized tribal reservations.

Six of the ten major industry supersectors increased jobs in May 2024, while three declined and the Construction and related Mining (gravel) supersector was unchanged.

The seven industry supersectors that added employment or were unchanged in May 2024 included:

Leisure and Hospitality +1,800, 1.2%, 156,900
Educational and Health Services +1,600, 0.4%, 364,800
Professional and Business Services +1,000, 0.5%, 220,700
Information +600, 2.0%, 30,300
Government +500, 0.2%, 234,900
Trade, Transportation & Utilities+300, 0.1%, 297,900
Construction and Mining unchanged, 0.0%, 63,900

The three industry supersector that decreased jobs in May 2024 were:

Manufacturing -500, -0.3%, 158,700
Other Services -400, -0.6%, 64,100
Financial Activities -200, -0.2%, 118,800

CONNECTICUT AND THE UNITED STATES - Seasonally Adjusted
	May	April	March	February	May	Over Month		Over Year
	2024 P	2024 R	2024	2024	2023	Change	Rate	Change	Rate
CONNECTICUT	1,711,000	1,706,300	1,704,700	1,704,200	1,693,000	4,700	0.3%	18,000	1.1%
Total Private	1,476,100	1,471,900	1,471,200	1,471,200	1,460,500	4,200	0.3%	15,600	1.1%
Goods Producing Industries
Mining	600	500	500	500	600	100	20.0%	0	0.0%
Construction	63,300	63,400	63,400	62,700	62,100	-100	-0.2%	1,200	1.9%
Manufacturing	158,700	159,200	158,800	158,600	158,400	-500	-0.3%	300	0.2%
Durable Goods	124,500	125,000	124,600	124,300	123,900	-500	-0.4%	600	0.5%
Nondurable Goods	34,200	34,200	34,200	34,300	34,500	0	0.0%	-300	-0.9%
Service Providing Industries
Trade, Transportation & Utilities	297,900	297,600	297,600	297,200	298,700	300	0.1%	-800	-0.3%
Wholesale	62,300	62,100	61,700	61,200	60,900	200	0.3%	1,400	2.3%
Retail	164,900	164,500	164,800	164,500	167,800	400	0.2%	-2,900	-1.7%
Transp, Warehousing & Utilities	70,700	71,000	71,100	71,500	70,000	-300	-0.4%	700	1.0%
Information	30,300	29,700	29,900	30,000	31,400	600	2.0%	-1,100	-3.5%
Financial Activities	118,800	119,000	118,300	118,500	118,500	-200	-0.2%	300	0.3%
Finance & Insurance	99,100	99,200	98,500	98,700	98,800	-100	-0.1%	300	0.3%
Real Estate, Rental & Leasing	19,700	19,800	19,800	19,800	19,700	-100	-0.5%	0	0.0%
Professional & Business Services	220,700	219,700	219,700	222,400	221,600	1,000	0.5%	-900	-0.4%
Prof, Scientific & Tech Services	101,600	101,100	100,100	100,500	100,500	500	0.5%	1,100	1.1%
Management of Companies	31,700	31,600	31,500	31,700	31,600	100	0.3%	100	0.3%
Admn & Support & Waste Mgt Serv	87,400	87,000	88,100	90,200	89,500	400	0.5%	-2,100	-2.3%
Educational & Health Services	364,800	363,200	362,000	361,200	353,600	1,600	0.4%	11,200	3.2%
Educational Services	73,000	72,500	72,500	72,900	70,600	500	0.7%	2,400	3.4%
Health Care & Social Assistance	291,800	290,700	289,500	288,300	283,000	1,100	0.4%	8,800	3.1%
Leisure and Hospitality	156,900	155,100	155,600	154,600	153,200	1,800	1.2%	3,700	2.4%
Arts, Entertainment & Recreation	29,700	29,200	29,000	28,400	28,100	500	1.7%	1,600	5.7%
Accommodation & Food Services	127,200	125,900	126,600	126,200	125,100	1,300	1.0%	2,100	1.7%
Other Services	64,100	64,500	65,400	65,500	62,400	-400	-0.6%	1,700	2.7%
Government**	234,900	234,400	233,500	233,000	232,500	500	0.2%	2,400	1.0%
UNITED STATES	158,543,000	158,271,000	158,106,000	157,796,000	155,787,000	272,000	0.2%	2,756,000	1.8%

Connecticut Labor Market Areas (LMAs): Four of the six major Connecticut LMAs that are seasonally adjusted by the BLS (about 92% of the coverage of the state) put forth nonfarm industry employment gains in May 2024, while two were unchanged. The Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford LMA(0.5%, 586,800) led in monthly gains adding 3,000 (magnitude) while the smaller more seasonal Norwich-New London-Westerly LMA (0.6%, 127,700) led in percentage gains - adding 700. The Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk LMA (0.5%, 411,700) added a healthy 2,000 positions while the Danbury LMA (0.1%, 78,400) increased 100 jobs. The New Haven LMA (0.0%, 306,400) and the Waterbury LMA (0.0%, 67,200) were unchanged last month.

Labor Market Area employment estimates are made independently of Statewide estimates.

	May	April	March	February	May	Over Month		Over Year
Seasonally Adjusted data	2024 P	2024 R	2024	2024	2023	Change	Rate	Change	Rate
Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk	411,700	409,700	409,800	408,400	406,400	2,000	0.5%	5,300	1.3%
Danbury	78,400	78,300	78,200	77,700	78,000	100	0.1%	400	0.5%
Hartford	586,800	583,800	582,900	583,300	580,700	3,000	0.5%	6,100	1.1%
New Haven	306,400	306,400	305,800	304,600	300,600	0	0.0%	5,800	1.9%
Norwich-New London-Westerly, RI	127,700	127,000	127,400	127,500	125,000	700	0.6%	2,700	2.2%
Waterbury	67,200	67,200	66,600	66,700	66,500	0	0.0%	700	1.1%
Not Seasonally Adjusted data (No
Enfield	43,100	42,800	42,600	42,500	43,200	300	0.7%	-100	-0.2%
Torrington-Northwest	33,400	32,500	32,300	32,300	33,300	900	2.8%	100	0.3%
Danielson-Northeast	27,500	27,000	27,000	27,000	27,600	500	1.9%	-100	-0.4%

* Less than					P = Preliminary		R = Revised

Note: Six major Connecticut LMAs are estimated independently from the statewide data by the BLS and cover more than 90% of the nonfarm employment in the state. Thus, estimates will not fully sum to the statewide total.

Hours and Earnings: The May 2024 Private Sector workweek, not seasonally adjusted, averaged 33.4 hours. This is higher by four-tenths of an hour from the May 2023 average of 33.0 hours (1.2%). Average hourly earnings at $37.70 in May 2024, not seasonally adjusted, were up by $2.34 (6.6%) from the May 2023 estimate of $35.36. The May 2024 Private Sector weekly wage averaged $1,259.18, higher by $92.30 (7.9%) from a year ago.

	AVG WEEKLY EARNINGS				AVG WEEKLY HOURS				AVG HOURLY EARNINGS
	May		CHG	Apr	May		CHG	Apr	May		CHG	Apr
(Not seasonally adjusted)	2024	2023	Y/Y	2024	2024	2023	Y/Y	2024	2024	2023	Y/Y	2024
PRODUCTION WORKER
MANUFACTURING	$1,213.91	$1,118.96	$94.95	$1,228.64	38.5	39.4	-0.9	38.6	$31.53	$28.40	$3.13	$31.83
DURABLE GOODS	1,290.01	1,205.78	84.24	1,309.77	38.2	39.9	-1.7	38.5	33.77	30.22	3.55	34.02
NON-DUR. GOODS	1,001.72	871.34	130.38	998.95	39.5	38.2	1.3	38.9	25.36	22.81	2.55	25.68
CONSTRUCTION	1,515.26	1,534.90	-19.63	1,459.37	38.4	40.8	-2.4	37.7	39.46	37.62	1.84	38.71

ALL EMPLOYEES
STATEWIDE
TOTAL PRIVATE	1,259.18	1,166.88	92.30	1,266.72	33.4	33.0	0.4	33.6	37.70	35.36	2.34	37.70
GOODS PRODUCING	1,502.34	1,449.52	52.82	1,494.21	38.8	39.8	-1.0	38.6	38.72	36.42	2.30	38.71
Construction	1,538.64	1,535.45	3.19	1,502.34	37.4	39.3	-1.9	36.5	41.14	39.07	2.07	41.16
Manufacturing	1,438.52	1,442.83	-4.31	1,459.53	38.9	39.4	-0.5	38.9	36.98	36.62	0.36	37.52
SERVICE PROVIDING	1,218.43	1,116.82	101.61	1,225.60	32.5	31.8	0.7	32.7	37.49	35.12	2.37	37.48
Trade, Transp., Utilities	968.95	897.37	71.58	972.87	31.8	31.3	0.5	31.7	30.47	28.67	1.80	30.69
Financial Activities	2,205.62	1,975.95	229.67	2,219.96	37.6	37.1	0.5	38.0	58.66	53.26	5.40	58.42
Prof. & Business Serv.	1,592.64	1,500.96	91.68	1,584.07	36.0	35.3	0.7	36.1	44.24	42.52	1.72	43.88
Education & Health Ser.	1,137.09	1,090.64	46.45	1,130.77	32.6	32.9	-0.3	32.7	34.88	33.15	1.73	34.58
Leisure & Hospitality	609.14	551.04	58.10	614.64	25.8	24.6	1.2	26.0	23.61	22.40	1.21	23.64
Other Services	921.42	892.38	29.04	934.51	30.4	29.5	0.9	30.7	30.31	30.25	0.06	30.44

LABOR MARKET AREAS: TOTAL PRIVATE
Bridgeport-Stamford	1,281.19	1,246.75	34.44	1,305.46	32.7	32.4	0.3	33.1	39.18	38.48	0.70	39.44
Danbury	1,191.14	1,224.72	-33.58	1,186.73	34.9	36.0	-1.1	35.1	34.13	34.02	0.11	33.81
Hartford	1,295.22	1,240.17	55.05	1,293.29	33.8	33.5	0.3	33.9	38.32	37.02	1.30	38.15
New Haven	1,167.73	1,099.14	68.59	1,186.64	32.5	33.5	-1.0	32.6	35.93	32.81	3.12	36.40
Norwich-New London	1,091.72	1,000.65	91.07	1,087.72	32.1	32.3	-0.2	32.2	34.01	30.98	3.03	33.78
Waterbury	991.97	905.63	86.34	989.88	34.1	32.6	1.5	33.9	29.09	27.78	1.31	29.20

Information for the manufacturing production workweek and earnings can be found in the table section of this release under the "Hours and Earnings" data category. Current all-employee private sector hours and earnings estimates can be volatile due to fluctuating sample responses.

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) was unchanged in May on a seasonally adjusted basis, after rising 0.3 percent in April, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 3.3 percent before seasonal adjustment.

More than offsetting a decline in gasoline, the index for shelter rose in May, up 0.4 percent for the fourth consecutive month. The index for food increased 0.1 percent in May. The food away from home index rose 0.4 percent over the month, while the food at home index was unchanged. The energy index fell 2.0 percent over the month, led by a 3.6-percent decrease in the gasoline index.

The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.2 percent in May, after rising 0.3 percent the preceding month. Indexes which increased in May include shelter, medical care, used cars and trucks, and education. The indexes for airline fares, new vehicles, communication, recreation, and apparel were among those that decreased over the month.

The all items index rose 3.3 percent for the 12 months ending May, a smaller increase than the 3.4-percent increase for the 12 months ending April. The all items less food and energy index rose 3.4 percent over the last 12 months. The energy index increased 3.7 percent for the 12 months ending May. The food index increased 2.1 percent over the last year.

State of Connecticut Unemployment Rate vs. United States Unemployment Rate

The preliminary May 2024 unemployment rate for Connecticut was estimated by the BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics program (LAUS) to be 4.3% (seasonally adjusted). This is down over the month by one-tenth of one percent but is higher by one percentage point compared to the May 2023 level of 3.3%. Last April and May 2023, Connecticut's unemployment rate reached its post COVID low point of 3.3%. The U.S. unemployment rate for May 2024 was 4.0%, higher by one-tenth of a percentage point from the April 2024 rate of 3.9% and is higher over the year from the U.S. jobless rate of 3.7% in May 2023.

Month	2015			2016			2017			2018			2019			2020			2021			2022			2023			2024
Month	CT	U.S.		CT	U.S.		CT	U.S.		CT	U.S.		CT	U.S.		CT	U.S.		CT	U.S.		CT	U.S.		CT	U.S.		CT	U.S.
Jan	6.0	5.7	-0.3	5.2	4.8	-0.4	4.6	4.7	0.1	4.2	4.0	-0.2	3.7	4.0	0.3	3.8	3.6	-0.2	7.1	6.4	-0.7	4.9	4.0	-0.9	3.6	3.4	-0.2	4.4	3.7	-0.7
Feb	5.9	5.5	-0.4	5.2	4.9	-0.3	4.5	4.6	0.1	4.1	4.1	0.0	3.6	3.8	0.2	3.8	3.5	-0.3	7.1	6.2	-0.9	4.6	3.8	-0.8	3.5	3.6	0.1	4.5	3.9	-0.6
Mar	5.8	5.4	-0.4	5.1	5.0	-0.1	4.5	4.4	-0.1	4.1	4.0	-0.1	3.6	3.8	0.2	3.9	4.4	0.5	7.0	6.1	-0.9	4.4	3.6	-0.8	3.4	3.5	0.1	4.5	3.8	-0.7
Apr	5.8	5.4	-0.4	5.0	5.1	0.1	4.5	4.4	-0.1	4.0	4.0	0.0	3.5	3.7	0.2	8.3	14.9	6.6	7.1	6.1	-1.0	4.3	3.7	-0.6	3.3	3.4	0.1	4.4	3.9	-0.5
May	5.7	5.6	-0.1	4.9	4.8	-0.1	4.4	4.4	0.0	3.9	3.8	-0.1	3.5	3.6	0.1	11.8	13.3	1.5	6.9	5.8	-1.1	4.1	3.6	-0.5	3.3	3.7	0.4	4.3	4.0	-0.3
Jun	5.6	5.3	-0.3	4.9	4.9	0.0	4.4	4.3	-0.1	3.9	4.0	0.1	3.5	3.6	0.1	11.5	11.0	-0.5	6.8	5.9	-0.9	4.0	3.6	-0.4	3.4	3.6	0.2
Jul	5.6	5.2	-0.4	4.8	4.8	0.0	4.4	4.3	-0.1	3.8	3.8	0.0	3.5	3.7	0.2	11.7	10.2	-1.5	6.5	5.4	-1.1	3.9	3.5	-0.4	3.6	3.5	-0.1
Aug	5.5	5.1	-0.4	4.7	4.9	0.2	4.4	4.4	0.0	3.8	3.8	0.0	3.6	3.6	0.0	9.6	8.4	-1.2	6.2	5.1	-1.1	3.8	3.6	-0.2	3.8	3.8	0.0
Sep	5.4	5.0	-0.4	4.7	5.0	0.3	4.4	4.3	-0.1	3.7	3.7	0.0	3.6	3.5	-0.1	8.8	7.8	-1.0	5.9	4.7	-1.2	3.8	3.5	-0.3	4.0	3.8	-0.2
Oct	5.4	5.0	-0.4	4.7	4.9	0.2	4.3	4.2	-0.1	3.7	3.8	0.1	3.6	3.6	0.0	7.9	6.8	-1.1	5.6	4.5	-1.1	3.8	3.6	-0.2	4.2	3.8	-0.4
Nov	5.4	5.1	-0.3	4.6	4.7	0.1	4.3	4.2	-0.1	3.7	3.8	0.1	3.7	3.6	-0.1	7.5	6.7	-0.8	5.3	4.1	-1.2	3.8	3.6	-0.2	4.2	3.7	-0.5
Dec	5.3	5.0	-0.3	4.6	4.7	0.1	4.3	4.1	-0.2	3.7	3.9	0.2	3.7	3.6	-0.1	7.4	6.7	-0.7	5.1	3.9	-1.2	3.7	3.5	-0.2	4.2	3.7	-0.5

The nonfarm employment estimate, derived from a survey of businesses, is a measure of jobs in the state; the unemployment rate and labor force estimates are based on a household survey, and measure the work status of people who live in Connecticut. Overall, as the national and state economies recover, volatility in monthly numbers can be expected. Job and employment estimates are best understood in the context of their movement over several months rather than observed changes in a single month's value.

Labor Force / Residents Employed / Residents Unemployed

Average weekly initial unemployment claims (not seasonally adjusted) for first-time filers (AWIC) in Connecticut for May 2024 were 2,331. This is 993 (-29.9%) claims lower than April 2024 (3,324), and much lower by 1,641 (-41.3%) claims than the May 2023 (3,972) tally. This is a low level of initial claims for the state and has been trending slightly lower over the year (trends, page 6).

Month	2018			2019			2020			2021			2022			2023			2024
Month	Labor Force	Resident Emp.	Resident Unemp.	Labor Force	Resident Emp.	Resident Unemp.	Labor Force	Resident Emp.	Resident Unemp.	Labor Force	Resident Emp.	Resident Unemp.	Labor Force	Resident Emp.	Resident Unemp.	Labor Force	Resident Emp.	Resident Unemp.	Labor Force	Resident Emp.	Resident Unemp.
Jan	1,908.3	1,828.3	80.0	1,927.3	1,856.5	70.8	1,936.8	1,863.4	73.4	1,805.1	1,676.0	129.0	1,942.9	1,848.6	94.4	1,886.3	1,818.6	67.7	1,902.4	1,819.5	82.9
Feb	1,910.7	1,831.8	78.9	1,926.6	1,856.8	69.8	1,931.1	1,856.8	74.3	1,801.7	1,673.9	127.8	1,938.6	1,849.5	89.2	1,886.4	1,820.5	65.8	1,906.4	1,820.3	86.1
Mar	1,914.5	1,836.7	77.7	1,925.8	1,857.2	68.6	1,924.5	1,849.6	74.9	1,800.0	1,673.3	126.8	1,933.8	1,849.1	84.7	1,887.1	1,822.9	64.2	1,910.5	1,825.0	85.4
Apr	1,918.6	1,842.2	76.5	1,925.7	1,858.0	67.7	1,828.7	1,676.7	151.9	1,801.0	1,673.6	127.4	1,929.3	1,847.1	82.3	1,888.3	1,825.0	63.2	1,911.1	1,827.6	83.4
May	1,922.2	1,846.9	75.3	1,926.7	1,859.5	67.2	1,901.8	1,676.9	224.9	1,798.9	1,674.8	124.1	1,923.0	1,843.2	79.8	1,889.8	1,826.6	63.2	1,914.6	1,832.7	81.8
Jun	1,924.9	1,850.7	74.2	1,928.9	1,861.6	67.3	1,893.1	1,675.9	217.3	1,821.1	1,696.8	124.3	1,914.8	1,837.8	77.1	1,892.0	1,827.5	64.5
Jul	1,926.8	1,853.6	73.2	1,931.7	1,863.6	68.1	1,901.5	1,679.8	221.6	1,837.5	1,717.7	119.9	1,905.6	1,831.3	74.3	1,894.5	1,827.1	67.4
Aug	1,928.5	1,856.0	72.5	1,934.6	1,865.5	69.1	1,859.8	1,681.9	178.0	1,854.9	1,739.0	115.9	1,896.6	1,825.4	71.2	1,896.8	1,825.1	71.6
Sep	1,930.0	1,857.9	72.1	1,937.4	1,867.5	69.9	1,848.0	1,685.1	162.9	1,870.3	1,759.9	110.4	1,892.9	1,820.9	71.9	1,898.6	1,822.5	76.1
Oct	1,931.4	1,859.4	72.0	1,939.7	1,869.0	70.6	1,828.0	1,684.2	143.8	1,888.5	1,782.0	106.5	1,890.1	1,818.1	71.9	1,899.6	1,820.1	79.6
Nov	1,932.6	1,860.8	71.9	1,941.0	1,869.5	71.5	1,819.1	1,682.3	136.8	1,905.5	1,804.1	101.4	1,888.1	1,817.0	71.1	1,899.5	1,819.2	80.3
Dec	1,933.4	1,861.9	71.5	1,940.2	1,867.8	72.5	1,813.4	1,679.3	134.1	1,924.3	1,826.4	97.9	1,886.9	1,817.3	69.6	1,899.1	1,819.3	79.9


	The nonfarm employment estimate, derived from a survey of businesses, is a measure of jobs in the state; the unemployment rate and labor force estimates are based on a household survey, and measure the work status of people who live in Connecticut. Overall, as the national and state economies recover, volatility in monthly numbers can be expected. Job and employment estimates are best understood in the context of their movement over several months rather than observed changes in a single month's value.

Next Connecticut Labor Situation release: Thursday, July 18, 2024 (June 2024, preliminary data)

State of Connecticut Department of Labor - Office of Research, 200 Folly Brook Boulevard, Wethersfield, CT 06109